Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper comparison easy, not apt

One day before Stephen Strasburg's journey from the draft to the majors ends, Bryce Harper's will begin. What will happen today, of course, is unprecedented. No team has ever picked first overall two years in a row. The Nationals will not only do that, but the two players they got each possess prodigious talent.

There will be a temptation to connect and compare Strasburg and Harper. On the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated, Harper and Strasburg are grouped as "Baseball's Next Superstars." Well, if Bryce Harper is baseball's next superstar, baseball is in for a bleak couple seasons.

What will follow with Harper will be very different than what you've watched happen with Strasburg over the past 12 months. Harper and Strasburg will share going first overall, playing for the Nationals and never understanding the feeling of wanting for money as an adult. They will share virtually nothing else.

It would have been detrimental to his development, but Strasburg could have gotten major league hitters out the day the Nationals picked him out of San Diego State. Despite his mind-boggling numbers at the College of Southern Nevada, Harper could not compete in the majors right now. He's 17. He probably won't reach the majors until 2013.

Harper also plays every day - either as a catcher or an outfielder - so each time he plays in the minors, it will not become the kind of news-making event Strasburg's starts became in the bushes.

"It's hard to really conceive that anyone would have the mystique that Stephen has had," Nationals President Stan Kasten said. "And how will it be different with a position player who plays every day? How is going to be different with a position player who is obviously going to plod much lower in the minors and take a much longer route in the majors? I don't know.

"But if there are special steps required, then that's what we'll do. We showed a couple years ago with Jack McGeary, when we wanted him we were able to take special steps to accommodate what we thought was a special talent. We'll do the things we think we have to do even if they're unconventional."

Syracuse 6, Durham 2: Justin Maxwell went 2 for 3 with a home run and a walk. Kevin Mench went 2 for 4. Shairon Martis allowed one earned run in six innings on four hits and four walks, striking out six. Atahualpa Severino threw three scoreless relief innings, allowing just one hit.

Akron 3, Harrisburg 0: Chris Marrero went 2 for 4, raising his average to .274. Tom Milone allowed one run in seven innings on four htis and a walk, striking out eight.

Word is out that Stammen has been demoted to make room for Strasburg. I guess this was done because he has an option available. Otherwise, it would have made more sense to DFA Tyler Walker or Sean Burnett, and move Stammen to the bullpen. Let's hope Stammen improves in Syracuse. With other pitchers entering the mix, it may be hard for him to get back to DC. Perhaps a trade is in order.

So, why is "he's just 17!" a reason to keep him in the minors for 3 years? I mean, I'm not lobbying to rush him through the system, but just suppose his bat is ready by next spring. Why would you keep him back? Is the additional benefit of having him catch that big?

Has anybody commented on the way Ryan Zimmerman has been throwing lately? That semi-submarine "sling" he's been using on almost every play these days? The reason I'm asking is that after I tore my rotator cuff in college 40 years ago, that's exactly the way I had to throw for the rest of the time I played third base in baseball and softball -- until my elbow blew out and I had to switch to playing first base because I literally couldn't throw at all any more. I'm really worried about him.

So, why is "he's just 17!" a reason to keep him in the minors for 3 years? I mean, I'm not lobbying to rush him through the system, but just suppose his bat is ready by next spring. Why would you keep him back? Is the additional benefit of having him catch that big?

Posted by: Section406 | June 7, 2010 9:05 AM | Report abuse

It isn't just baseball ability; maturity is also a consideration. I would have a real concern about whether an 18-year-old is mentally and emotionally ready for the bigs. Also, if he waits until the last minute to sign, that would mean that he would get little or no minor league time this season. Going from a relatively-low level of college ball to the majors is a huge jump (even if he plays winter ball after signing). I think that it would do him some good to spend a couple of years in the minors.

As for what position the Nats have Harper play (assuming, of course, that they get him signed), that will be interesting. There is a shortage of quality options at both RF and C in the organization, especially if Flores can't come all the way back. Catcher is probably the more important position, but they miss more games because of the physical toll of the position, and if Harper's bat is as deadly as everyone says, you want him in the lineup every day. Also, catchers take longer to develop, so he might have to spend more time in the minors if he catches.

Hopefully Harper is modeled a bit more after Hall of Fame right fielder Al Kaline who jumped immediately to the majors out of high school in Baltimore. Perhaps, if he is moved to the outfield, Harper will follow the same time-line that Storen did.